Dietitian (Clinical)

• Conducts comprehensive nutrition assessments using the Nutritional Care Process (NCP) including nutrition focused physical examinations to establish a nutrition diagnosis and determine risk and/or degree of malnutrition.
• Develops and implements Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) to address the nutrition diagnosis evaluates and monitors the effectiveness and outcomes of MNT interventions. Modifies the plan as needed to achieve positive patient outcomes.
• Calculates nutrient requirements and necessary diet restrictions or food and drug interactions tailoring the diet prescription to each individual patient.
• Documents MNT in the medical record using the Assessment Diagnosis Intervention Monitoring Evaluation (ADIME) format.
• Functions independently and accurately when record keeping.
• Identifies patients in need of nutritional support and recommends the appropriate mode of support and communicates appropriately with the health care team.
• Actively participates in formal and informal interdisciplinary team meetings.
• Assesses educational needs and provides nutrition education/counseling for individuals and groups that is tailored to the Veteran(s).
• Utilizes virtual care technology to improve access to care.
• Maintains productivity standards.
• Maintains accurate record keeping of daily clinical activities and completes patient encounters using approved systems.
• Ensures continuous improvement of safe and quality care of Veterans.
• Leads activities in the implementation of new initiatives. Uses data in the development of measures data evaluation and initiation of corrective actions.
• Complies with The Joint Commission requirements and other accrediting agency standards to ensure safe and quality patient care.
• Collaborates with the Food Operations Section and department leadership to enhance the Veterans dining experience support patient satisfaction and serve as a liaison between clinical units and the Food Operations Section.
• May perform other related duties as assigned which are appropriate for the grade and assignment.

Assignment to GS-07: Employees in this assignment serve in a Dietitian (Clinical) entry level developmental position within the Clinical Section of NFS. They perform increasingly complex tasks as they acquire skills in clinical nutrition to apply evidenced-based nutrition practice guidelines. Clinical Dietitians coordinate nutritional care of Veterans with other health care providers the Veteran the Veterans caregiver and the community. Clinical
Dietitians learn to interpret research apply whole health principles and develop patient centered goals. They collaborate with the Food Operations Section to enhance the Veterans dining experience and ensure patient satisfaction.

Assignment to GS-09: Employees in this assignment serve in a Dietitian (Clinical) developmental position within the Clinical Section of NFS. They perform increasingly complex tasks as they continue to develop skills in clinical nutrition to apply evidenced-based nutrition practice guidelines. Clinical Dietitians coordinate nutritional care of Veterans with other health care providers the Veteran the Veterans caregiver and the community. Clinical
Dietitians continue to learn to interpret research apply whole health principles and develop patient-centered goals. They collaborate with the Food Operations Section to enhance the Veterans dining experience and ensure patient satisfaction.

Assignment to GS-11: Employees in this assignment serve in a Dietitian (Clinical) full performance level position within the Clinical Section of NFS serving as the medical nutrition expert. They are autonomous in their work in applying evidenced-based nutrition practice guidelines for all patients including those with complex medical and nutritional needs. Clinical Dietitians coordinate nutritional care of Veterans with other health care providers the Veteran the Veterans caregiver and the community. They interpret research and utilize whole health principles to develop patient-centered goals and improve outcomes. Clinical Dietitians collaborate with the Food Operations Section to enhance the Veterans dining experience and ensure patient satisfaction.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm with rotating weekends and holidays.
Telework: Not available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: PD99529S
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1-year or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) or Registered Dietitian (RD) - Must be registered with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) the credentialing branch of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics formerly known as the American Dietetic Association (ADA).
  • Exception for GS-07 and GS-09 Only: Dietitians who do not possess the RDN/RD credential. Non-credentialed Dietitians who otherwise meet the basic qualification requirements and have fulfilled the requirements below but do not possess the RDN credential may be given a full-time temporary appointment not to exceed one year under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2). May only be appointed at the GS-07 or GS-09 level and may not be promoted/converted until they obtain their RDN credential.
    • Non-credentialed Dietitians must have fulfilled each of the following:
      • Earned a bachelors or higher degree from a U.S. regionally accredited college or university or foreign equivalent. Foreign Education: To be creditable college and/or university degrees earned outside the U.S and its territories must be evaluated by ACEND and meet ACENDs International Dietitian Education standards which are designed to provide graduates with the knowledge and competencies to sit for the CDR credentialing exam. AND
      • Completed an ACEND accredited experiential or supervised practice program and provide a verification statement from the program director that conveys eligibility to take the CDR registration exam as a prospective RDN. A list of ACEND accredited programs are located on the ACEND website or at ACEND Accredited Programs Directory.

Current VHA Dietitians that qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision may not be promoted to a higher grade if they do not meet the current RDN/RD requirements.

Grade Determinations: All individuals assigned to this occupation must meet all the basic qualification requirements above and all the requirements defined in the specific assignment.

GS-07 Dietitian (Clinical) (Entry Level Developmental) - No additional requirements beyond the basic requirements.

GS-09 Dietitian (Clinical) (Developmental) - Experience/Education Requirement: n addition to meeting the basic requirements to qualify for the GS-09 you must have at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7) OR a masters degree from a regionally accredited university or college in the field of dietetics or closely related field. Your experience or education must demonstrate the following Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of various accrediting and regulatory requirements.
• Knowledge of virtual technology to provide nutrition care.
• Ability to deliver patient care using the NCP (e.g. assessment diagnosis intervention monitoring and evaluation).
• Ability to apply evidence-based nutrition practices to improve patient outcomes.
• Ability to develop patient-centered goals.
• Ability to collect data for performance improvement studies.
• Ability to collaborate with stakeholders.

GS-11 Dietitian (Clinical) (Full Performance Level) Experience Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements to qualify for the GS-11 up must possess at least 1 year of experience as an RDN/RD equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) which demonstrates the following Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Skill in delivering patient care using the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) (e.g. assessment diagnosis intervention monitoring and evaluation).
• Skill in interpreting research to apply evidence-based nutrition practices to improve patient outcomes.
• Skill in developing patient-centered goals.
• Skill in analyzing data for performance improvement studies.
• Skill in collaborating with stakeholders.
• Ability to comply with various accrediting regulatory and agency authorities.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.

Creditable Experience. To be creditable the experience must have required the use of knowledge skills and abilities (KSAs) associated with current professional dietetic practice and must have been gained post registration. This may be evidenced by one or more of the following: (1) The equivalent of 1 year of active professional practice. Active professional practice means paid/non-paid employment as a registered Dietitian. (2) Academic course work leading to an advanced graduate degree in nutrition or a related health care field.

Quality of Experience. Qualifying experience must be comparable to dietetic experience at the next lower grade level of the position being filled. For all assignments above the full performance level the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope administrative independence complexity and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as a registered Dietitian is credited according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example a registered Dietitian employed 20 hours per week or on a half-time basis would receive 1 full-time work week of credit for each 2 weeks of service.

Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) is the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics accrediting agency for education programs preparing students for careers as registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN).

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Registered Dietitian. RDN and Registered Dietitian (RD) credentials are the same and both are qualifying. The difference between RDN and RD is in name only due to a change by the professional academy in 2014. In this standard the term RDN will be used.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.